Process of using a submerged combustion melter to produce hollow glass fiber or solid glass fiber having entrained bubbles, and burners and systems to make such fibers
First Claim
1. An adjustable submerged combustion burner comprising:
- a first conduit comprising a first end, a second end, a longitudinal bore having a longitudinal axis, and an external surface, the first end comprising threads on the external surface,a second conduit substantially concentric with the first conduit, the second conduit comprising a first end, a second end, and an internal surface,the first and second conduits configured to form a primary annulus between the external surface of the first conduit and the internal surface of the second conduit;
a body having an upper surface, a lower surface, a circumferential surface abutting a portion of the internal surface of the second conduit, and a generally cylindrical central hub concentric with the longitudinal axis, the structure adjustable axially in relation to and threadedly attached to the threads of the first end of the first conduit via the hub, the hub defining a central passage having an exit at the upper surface, the body comprising one or more non-central through passages extending from the lower to the upper surface, the non-central passages configured such that flow of one or more fluids through the non-central passages causes the fluids to intersect with a flow of one or more other fluids in a mixing region above the upper surface of the body;
a third substantially concentric conduit comprising a first end, a second end, and an internal surface, the internal surface of the third conduit forming, with an exterior surface of the second conduit, a secondary annulus external to the primary annulus;
the first end of the third conduit extending beyond the first end of the second conduit, the first end of the second conduit extending beyond the first end of the first conduit, and the secondary annulus is capped by a half-toroid end cap connecting the first end of the second conduit and the first end of the third conduit; and
the second end of the second conduit sealed around the first conduit, and the second end of the third conduit sealed around the second conduit, forming a cavity for fluid to circulate.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Processes and systems for producing glass fibers having regions devoid of glass using submerged combustion melters, including feeding a vitrifiable feed material into a feed inlet of a melting zone of a melter vessel, and heating the vitrifiable material with at least one burner directing combustion products of an oxidant and a first fuel into the melting zone under a level of the molten material in the zone. One or more of the burners is configured to impart heat and turbulence to the molten material, producing a turbulent molten material comprising a plurality of bubbles suspended in the molten material, the bubbles comprising at least some of the combustion products, and optionally other gas species introduced by the burners. The molten material and bubbles are drawn through a bushing fluidly connected to a forehearth to produce a glass fiber comprising a plurality of interior regions substantially devoid of glass.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An adjustable submerged combustion burner comprising:
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a first conduit comprising a first end, a second end, a longitudinal bore having a longitudinal axis, and an external surface, the first end comprising threads on the external surface, a second conduit substantially concentric with the first conduit, the second conduit comprising a first end, a second end, and an internal surface, the first and second conduits configured to form a primary annulus between the external surface of the first conduit and the internal surface of the second conduit; a body having an upper surface, a lower surface, a circumferential surface abutting a portion of the internal surface of the second conduit, and a generally cylindrical central hub concentric with the longitudinal axis, the structure adjustable axially in relation to and threadedly attached to the threads of the first end of the first conduit via the hub, the hub defining a central passage having an exit at the upper surface, the body comprising one or more non-central through passages extending from the lower to the upper surface, the non-central passages configured such that flow of one or more fluids through the non-central passages causes the fluids to intersect with a flow of one or more other fluids in a mixing region above the upper surface of the body; a third substantially concentric conduit comprising a first end, a second end, and an internal surface, the internal surface of the third conduit forming, with an exterior surface of the second conduit, a secondary annulus external to the primary annulus; the first end of the third conduit extending beyond the first end of the second conduit, the first end of the second conduit extending beyond the first end of the first conduit, and the secondary annulus is capped by a half-toroid end cap connecting the first end of the second conduit and the first end of the third conduit; and the second end of the second conduit sealed around the first conduit, and the second end of the third conduit sealed around the second conduit, forming a cavity for fluid to circulate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification